Sun Valley Area Fishing Report - June 30, 2021

Without question one of the most fun things about angling around the Sun Valley area is the emergence of the Trico Spinner Fall! This tiny little insect shows up in such huge numbers that the fish literally group up into pods underneath he best feeding lanes, and they eat and they eat and they eat. This event can last an hour or sometimes 3 or more! The Trico emerges in the early morning hours, normally under the darkness. In the morning the Tricos come back to mate and drop their eggs and die. This is when the fish really get going.

So when you tell your friends you are going to fish the Trico hatch, you better be up early! It is the Trico Spinner Fall that we are fishing and that matters. It matters because the bugs are dying and coming to the river from the air. They have spent wings laying flat in the water. Hatching insects go from water to the air in a completely different cycle. They have upright wings and can’t wait to use them!

Silver Creek is seeing the start of these big Spinner Falls. The water near Point of Rocks and the Willows is a great place to fish the Trico. The Nature Conservancy is also really picking up steam with this little bug. Mix in some Baetis toward the end of the morning Trico and it makes for an outrageously fun morning!

The Big Wood, the Upper Lost and the Lower Lost all have their own versions of this event and it is really the same, with the Big Wood Trico being slightly bigger than most and the Lost River Trico slightly smaller. Fishing a Trico in a size 20 is a good starting point, but be ready to go to 22 or 24 is need be.

Early season you can fish the Trico with a 10 foot leader and 5X or even 5.5X for you TroutHunter fans out there. IN a few more weeks we will fish longer leaders to 12 feet and 6X tippets. We don’t fish 7X because if they aren’t taking your fly on 6X it is your drift and presentation, not the fly or the tippet size.

Fish short drift down and across to your target. When they eat, simply lift the rod, do not “strike” the fish, you will break off. Now get out there and have fun on one of the best events of the fishing season.

Happy Fishing Everyone!

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report - June 23, 2021

The heat of summer has settled in and hopefully everyone is staying safe and adjusting accordingly. Anglers that are early risers or night owls are positioned to see the best fishing. There is some afternoon fishing to be had, but the best fishing is happening during the cooler hours. Beating the sunlight to the rivers can payoff huge this time of the season. We normally see these conditions in late July, but we all need to switch mindsets earlier this year.

Silver Creek, despite the low water year is still fishing well. The river is being maintained by cooler nights and wind events that seem to keep things steady during the day. This is not to say that things are normal. It is still important to keep your catch in the water for release, and limit your photos to true fish of a lifetime. Baetis and PMD are still the morning and evening attractions for the fish. In the afternoon it is Ants and Beetles and now Baby Hoppers! The Hoppers we have seen are olives and yellows. Fish them small when the wind comes up and consider dropping a Split-Case PMD underneath until this bite really turns on with the adult Hoppers in a few more weeks. The best hatches may be the late morning / early evening Callibaetis. Look for this bug in the Stillwater sections of the Creek.

The Big Wood is fishing well up north with PMD and Green Drake patterns. The morning spinner falls are the best show of the day with Green Drakes spinning over the fastest water. Look for rising fish and fish eating drowned spinners at the base of the shallow rapid sections. The evenings can be good on the Big Wood as well. Rusty Spinners are the way to go for rising fish in the evening. During the day, try attractor patterns with droppers and cover a lot of water.

The Lost River continues to fish. It is more challenging this year and anglers that like slightly more technical fishing will find plenty of challenge on the upper and the lower Lost River right now. Small Stimulators, Baby Hoppers and Ants are all excellent choices! If fish aren’t looking up, try a small Streamer or small Copper Johns fished under a big dry fly.

Finally, please everyone…with low water, lot’s of anglers and long days, let’s all take especially great care of our rivers and fish!

Happy Fishing Everyone!

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report - June 16th, 2021

The summer heat is upon us and with the heat comes a few things to keep in mind. Fishing in the evening will become more important. Baby Hoppers will be heading for the shorelines where the grass is green and they can grow fast (think windy days). Ants and Beetles are going to remain great afternoon patterns. The water will start dropping and this will move fish around. Anglers will want to think about lightening and lengthening their leaders and tippets.

Silver Creek is responding to these hot days with some early season Callibaetis hatches. They don’t hatch every day in huge numbers, but when they do it is a show! The mornings remain Baetis and Pale Morning Duns, with the infrequent Callibaetis mixed in. If you are fishing the Creek, do these fish a favor and fish rods and leaders that will let you land a fish quickly. Be sure to keep them in the water when you release them. Save the pictures for only the biggest fish and take good care of them by keeping them dripping in your shots. Get a quick one and let them go, or just tell a good story and don’t worry as much about photos during these low water years.

The Big Wood should become a little more difficult to fish as the heat comes on. The early mornings can be precious and the best time of the day to be out there. Walk slow and look for fish in skinny water next to the bank. Small Caddis and P.M.D. patterns are great for sight fishing in the mornings. During the heat of the day, search deeper areas with Big Foam flies and nymph droppers underneath them. The evenings are always a smorgasbord of bugs, so be sure your fly box is loaded and be very sure you have a variety of Rusty Spinners. I can’t stress enough how important the Rusty Spinner is on the Big Wood on warm summer nights.

The Lost River system is fishing o.k. The water is low and the fish are spread out. On the hottest days anglers that have trouble with the heat should think about fishing the Big Wood instead. If you do fish the upper, take good care of the fish. Try using small attractors and streamers.

One thing to keep in mind as we get into the real heat of summer is HIGH MOUNTAIN LAKES! This is the year to hike and explore if there ever was one!

Happy Fishing Everyone!

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report - March 29th 2021

Wednesday, March 31st, marks the closure of the entirety of Silver Creek and the Big Wood River (the South Fork Boise River also closes on March 31st). These waters will open again on Saturday, May 29th. Until then, anglers will have to concentrate their efforts on other fisheries.

 The Big Lost River near Mackay remains open to fishing all year. This tailwater fishery can be incredibly productive during April if river flows remain stable and low enough for easy wading. As of right now, flows coming out of Mackay Reservoir are at approximately 110 CFS, which allows anglers easy access to all stretches of the river. Flows much higher than 300 CFS make wading and crossing the river channel difficult, essentially limiting fishing access. Given the lower snowpack in the Big Lost drainage, it’s likely that flows on the river will remain wadable throughout the month of April.

 April will see significant spawning activity on the Big Lost, so anglers should be careful when wading and avoid spawning redds. Look for oval-shaped depressions of clean gravel along the river bottom (the female trout scours the riverbed with her tail to loosen gravel) and avoid fish that are actively spawning; let the trout do their thing!

 Midge activity will be present on the Big Lost throughout the month, but the main hatch activity will be the BWO (or Baetis). These bugs hatch in great numbers on most afternoons, and anglers should be prepared to fish several stages of the BWO – nymph, emerger, and dun. The BWO ranges in size from 18-22 and is grey-olive in color.

 Olive Pheasant Tails, olive Rainbow Warriors, and green Copper Johns are great choices when nymphing. Small Pat’s Rubber Legs and Prince nymphs are also productive, representing small stonefly nymphs present in the river. Of course, tiny zebra midges in black, red, olive, and brown are essentials on the Big Lost.

 When fishing to rising trout, anglers should carry RS2s, Quigley or Last Chance Cripples, and Sparkle Flag Duns to imitate the emergent and adult BWOs. Small Parachute Adams in size 18 – 22 will also fool plenty of trout.

 Trail Creek Road is closed, so the only route to the Big Lost for valley anglers is through Picabo. Stop by the fly shop to pick up everything you need for a day on the Big Lost! We’re stocked with rods, reels, lines, leaders, tippet, and flies, and our grill can make you a wonderful lunch to take on the river. We’ve also got plenty of snacks, coolers, and ice-cold drinks in our store.

 Happy Fishing Everyone!

Sun Valley, Idaho Winter Fishing

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report

November 18, 2020

The single best thing about fishing in the snow, other than its beautiful, refreshing, the fishing is great, and there are fewer people…is the tracks! If you want to find fish and areas that are seeing little to no pressure all you have to do it look at the snow and see if there are tracks or at least fresh tracks left by your fellow anglers!

It is Streamer and Nymphing weather these days, with the big winter hatches coming soon. Do not make the mistake of not fishing when it is snowing. It is the norm to have some of the best winter fishing when it is pounding snow. The harder is snows and the bigger the flakes the better!

There are not a lot of bugs left to imitate as the winter season moves forward. The Midge hatches become the single most important bug we will see and imitate until March. There are a variety of tried and true winter patterns that continue to work. If you are fishing the Midge try Brassies, Zebra Nymphs and Tie Down Midges. If you are fishing them on the surface just use a Griffiths Gnat and a Tie Down Midge. If you would like to fish bigger winter nymphs look at Girdle Bugs and Prince Nymphs. Copper John’s are a great option as well.

Streamer fishing can be great fun in the winter. If you are swinging by Picabo Angler be sure to ask us about our custom tied Sparkle Minnows. These are deep sinking flies with large hook gaps to grab onto the biggest Idaho trout! Fish them in any of our area waters. On the Big Wood River this fly is a killer. You can also get away with basic Bugger patterns as well. Simply put a small split shot directly above the know you tied the fly on with. The fish won’t care, and you’ll catch a lot of them.

Fish group up in the wintertime. They seek out soft currents where they can still find food, and not too deep. They still want a little warm sun like we do! Try to find deeper riffled water that is moving gently. Back Eddies and foam lines are also great places to target. Keep in mind the fish are grouped, so if you find one, you will find several.

It’s a great time to be out there. Please be safe and fish with a buddy!

Happy Fishing Everyone!

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Winter on the Big Wood River

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report - July 28, 2020

Sun Valley Area Fly Fishing Update for July 28th, 2020

The heat of summer is upon us and it is time to fish accordingly. This means set your alarm for the early morning hours and be ready to stay up late! With the heat coming up and the water temperatures as well, the best fishing will be found in the early morning hours.

Plan on the morning activity like the Trico Spinner Fall to be a constant the next few weeks with Baetis on the tail end. The wind is the determining factor on how voracious the fish will act on any given morning. The Trico is generally showing up around 8:00 to 8:30 most mornings. This is not to say that there are not earlier bugs on Silver Creek. Finding Callibaetis and Trico Duns on the water before the sun hits the ground is not uncommon.

In the afternoons look for Damsel Flies and Callibaetis on the water when the wind is down. Look for slow moving water and weed beds to find these bugs. If the wind is ramping up for the afternoon try fishing Hoppers. Pink and Yellow seem to be the dominant colors this season.

The evenings on the Creek are a constant smorgasbord of Callibaetis, Baetis, P.M.D. and Caddis. A Rusty Spinner in several sizes will cover most of the evening rise. Hoppers and Streamers are also a great choice in the evening.

The Big Wood and Upper Lost Rivers are seeing plenty of anglers. Yet, another reason to get on the water early. With the low water conditions and the heat coming up the fishing should become more difficult in coming days and weeks. This means move slower, observe the water longer, make your fishing decisions more deliberate.

In the mornings look for fish eating Tricos in the slowest flattest water, in the evenings be ready for Caddis hatches. These hatches should really begin to grow in size as we enter the month of August. The afternoons are all about Hopper Droppers and even some Cicada patterns.

The South Fork of the Boise is in Pink Albert and Hopper season. Fish both of these in the middle of the day. The Hopper fishing continues to improve as you approach the low light hours. If you’re fishing the Pinks, fish the shallowest riffles. You may be surprised at how shallow the fish will move for this insect.

It’s busy out there, so everyone please be kind and respectful of one another and it will be a great day!

Happy Fishing Everyone!

Macro Images Of A Morphing PMD On Silver Creek

With just over a week to go until the opener, a few of us have been seining Silver Creek and taking a closer look at where the brown drakes might be in their maturity. While we have observed no brown drake nymphs with dark wing cases (meaning more mature) we have seen many damselfly nymphs and scuds.

At the same time, Callibaetis, Baetis, and PMD’s have been regularly emerging in the afternoons and the fish have been on them up and down the Creek, from downstream of the Picabo Bridge, through Point of Rocks and The Willows all the way through The Nature Conservancy.

Below is a series of images of a PMD morphing from nymph to dun shot on Silver Creek a few days ago by Nick Price:

Silver Creek Opening Day 2020

Idaho’s opening day of fishing is right in front of us…

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A pod of rising fish—taken yesterday—not far from Picabo Angler, enjoys the abundant PMD’s, Callibaetis, and Baetis brought on, undoubtedly, by the recent warmer weather.

Temperatures are slowly increasing, water levels are slowly increasing, anticipation of warm dry fly days is increasing. Spring is upon us and that means we are a short time away from our summer season! Silver Creek will be open again near the end of the month, as will most Idaho rivers. With that in mind it is generally Silver Creek that sees a volume of anglers on the opening weekend, as the river is running clear, and the fishing is generally pretty good.

Many an angler looks forward to joining us at Picabo Angler to celebrate the new fishing season and ringing in this special day on the Friday night before hand. The opening day eve party has brought a lot of joy and energy to Picabo. The opening weekend has brought excitement, laughs and more than a few good fish stories!

This year is going to be a vastly different fishing season for obvious reasons. We will not be having our Friday night get together with Hank Patterson and Hillfolk Noir this year. WE ARE going to support our fishing community though, and we will try to take your health and safety to heart while we do. We are crossing our fingers on the weather for Opening Day, May 23 this month, so that we may bring our fly shop outdoors to you! The grass area behind Picabo Angler will be a wonderful place to come and look around at all our wonderful new offerings.

We have continued to purchase incredible products from Simms, Umpqua, Thomas and Thomas, Scott Rods, RIO, Lamson, Tibor and many, many other incredible brands. We will have our casting course set up alongside our newest offerings on the lawn behind the store, as well as flies and tackle inside the fly shop. The Grill will be open, and we have a new picnic area to enjoy. We intend to help take care of our customers while giving everyone the space and time to shop in comfort. 

Please know we have your safety and the safety of our employees in mind. We are all anglers together on May 23rd! Our store and facilities will be disinfected regularly, and our employees will be disinfecting their hands between your purchases. Let’s take care of each other!

Our goal is to provide the good and angler needs like we always do, but instead of having our annual event at a set time, we will open our doors early and stay late over the weekend so that you have plenty of time to come see what’s new this year, cast some rods, grab some flies and of course enjoy the Grill and cold beverages!One last thing…

Be on the lookout for Root Beer and Huckleberry floats at Picabo Angler this season!!!! We all deserve a treat!

Silver Creek Brown Drake Nymph

We seined Silver Creek in four different locations today from behind the shop in Picabo to the Willows. Below is an image of a brown drake nymph. Note the wing pads are still light colored suggesting that we still have a little time on our hands before the big emergence. We did not find any brown drake nymphs with dark wing pads.

Opening day this year is on Saturday May, 23rd and we will be stocked with plenty of brown drake patterns, beer, food, and all of your other fly fishing needs.

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Brown Drake Nymph found on Silver Creek. May 8, 2020

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report - April 23, 2020

Now is a great time to explore Blaine County’s local still waters. They offer a very different challenge than our rivers, and undoubtedly will make you a more dynamic angler. It is easy to be overwhelmed by their vastness, so focus on very specific features such as rocky points, old river channels, and drop offs. Vary your flies, depths, strip speed/cadence, and you can expect to have some success.

Magic Reservoir has been busy and we recommend thinking outside the box when it comes to access points in order to distance yourself from fellow anglers. Check out Moonstone, East Magic, Myrtle Point, and Lava Point.  Chironomids and leeches have both been effective.  If you have never fished a balanced leech, now is the time to try it. Even the most lethargic of fish have a hard time passing on a leech suspended in the water column. As the water continues to warm up, don’t be surprised if you find a smallmouth bass on the end of your line instead of a trout.

Fish Creek Reservoir and Littlewood Reservoir are now ice free. They can both be very windy this time of year, so make sure to check the forecast before you head out. A little wind can be good as it will add some movement to your nymph rigs and make the fish less wary. A lot can make the fishing near impossible. The inlets of both reservoirs are great places to start. Leeches, San Juan Worms, and Chironomids should all be in the box. Float tubing can be a great way to fish around the inlets, but don’t forget your fins as the banks drop off abruptly.

If you are looking to really mix it up, check out Carey Lake. Species more typically found in the Midwest such as bluegill, perch, and bass comprise the majority of the fishery. This year, the perch numbers are high and once you’ve found them, you need not move. They are excellent table fare, but be careful when filleting them as their spines can leave your fingers tattered with cuts. The water color is quite dirty, and it seems that most nymphs with some flash will get their attention.

With the restrictions currently in place, we will continue to focus on the fishing within Blaine County. Get out in the sun, find some open space, and be grateful we live in a place where we can still go fishing!

Spring Fishing Options within Blaine County, Idaho

• Spring Fishing Options Within Blaine County, Idaho

  In these days of social distancing it has become clear that “The Quiet Sport” has become the go-to activity in the Wood River Valley. Once Baldy closed to skiing, anglers flocked to the rivers. We are blessed with many, many river miles of fishable water in the Sun Valley / Picabo area. This has made great respite for many people. On April 1st the Big Wood River and Silver Creek will both be closed to fishing so the Rainbow Trout population can spawn for many uninterrupted weeks. It is an important time for our fisheries to reproduce as well as give these fish a break once a year.

  The following is a guide for Blaine County residents that are isolating to help them get outside and fish on the waters that remain open within the Blaine County line. It is not an invitation for anglers, tourists and others not in isolation outside this area. This also needs to be read within the context of the isolation order. It is not an excuse to plan a fishing trip with friends, or even go to areas that already has an angler there. We have a lot of room, so please use it. If someone is in your “hotspot” move on. It’s a great excuse to explore and find new opportunities.

  With the local river closures, there is still nearby fly fishing to be had. Picabo Angler wants to help you find new fly-fishing adventures through this time of isolation and social distancing. Fly Fishing is not only a healthy activity that will keep you in the sun and fresh air, it also is an unappalled soul soothing activity.

  One of the best scenes we saw last week was a couple of friends fishing the Little Wood River, each on opposite banks. They were chatting back and forth across the river and enjoying the day together, yet they remained generally 80 feet apart and had driven there separately. The following are places to go and what to expect as runoff approaches.

  The Little Wood River

  The Little Wood River will offer some fishing before the runoff begins. The river itself, although a nice little summer creek to fish, is not known for great fishing in the spring. The fish population is always in flux as the trout have easy access to winter over in the reservoir. Yet, it is a beautiful place to go and cast flies. There are some fish around including a nice Brook trout population. Little black woolly buggers and micro streamers are a great way to fish when the waters are cold. Nymphing is an option as well. The fish here are not picky. If you go, be sure to aim for dry days. This is not an area to be in on rainy days as the road conditions can deteriorate quickly. If it’s dry and sunny you have no worries. Most access can be found around High-Five Campground a few miles above the reservoir. If you’re new to this area, DO NOT try to get there by driving over Muldoon in the spring. That can be very dangerous as the snow melts and spring rains begin. Take the long way around and access from the downstream reservoir road.

  The desert section of the Little Wood is open as well, but it is not in Blaine County. So out of respect to our neighbors to the south we ask that residents remain in county and leave these areas for those more southern area residents to fish.

  Magic Reservoir, Little Wood Reservoir, Fish Creek Reservoir

  Each of these reservoirs are unique in their own way, but they can all be fly fished with the same techniques. All of them can be fished from the bank, so don’t rule any of them out if you don’t have a boat or float tube. (*Note: If you do put a float tube in these waters, take all necessary deep-water precautions, life preserver, warm clothes, no crossings due to winds, etc. Just stay close to a shore and contour it.) If you launch a boat, be sure the ramp is open for use and practice good social distancing in the parking areas.

  Please keep in mind that the ice on these reservoirs recedes at different times. Currently Magic Reservoir has the most fishable water. The Little Wood Reservoir and Fish Creek Reservoir need a little more time for the ice to dissipate. Also, be CAUTIOUS when there is ice and open water in these places. If you launch a watercraft, the ice can shift. Even huge amounts, acres worth of ice, can move and trap you or worse. Be hyper aware and perhaps wait to launch small craft when the ice is fully gone.

  We will keep you posted as the ice comes off the other Blaine County reservoirs.

  Magic Reservoir is the Valley’s most overlooked fabled water. The reservoir grows a lot of big fish and they are not that hard to catch. Spring evenings here can present incredible dry fly opportunities and many an angler has been turned into a reservoir dog by this body of water. Fish the reservoir anywhere from the bank, any time of the day, by casting streamers on a dry line with a long leader, or an intermediate sinking line with a short leader. Move around and try to locate hot spots. Anglers will also nymph the banks either stripping large nymph patterns or fishing midge patterns under strike indicators when the fish are near the surface. Bass and Perch are in the mix too and can make for an incredible bite some days! These fish are also great table fair and wonderful in a smoker. Be aware in the Big Wood arm of Magic that you are fishing below the signage indicating where the reservoir and Big Wood River meet. The Rock Creek area is now closed and considered part of the Big Wood River. This is a Stillwater section, but the Big Wood canyon above the reservoir falls under Big Wood regulations and is closed until Opening Day, May 23. There is bank access all around the reservoir with plenty of access. Google Earth is a great tool to use when exploring this area. There are dirt roads all around the reservoir making it easy to find your own little area for the day.

  Little Wood Reservoir has a large fish population although with fish slightly smaller in size than Magic Reservoir. This means more catching and fewer anglers. There is great shore fishing from the west side of the dam where it meets the mountains. If you want to make a wonderful hike and fish, go to the west side of the dam, there is a saddle behind the big peak where the dam meets the mountain. Go around that peak, over that saddle and you will drop into a glorious cove with a little seasonal stream, wildflowers and aspen trees. Put on some Zebra Midges and hang them under a strike indicator 4 or 5 feet and fish just off the shore. Careful, the bank is a bit steep and deep! There is also great bank access right from your vehicle near the campground and day use areas. This is also a great area to launch a float tube.

  Fish Creek Reservoir can be a mud bog in the spring, but the fish in here grow stout. There are some decent Brook Trout in here as well. The catch rate can be slower than nearby reservoirs, Fish near the inlets and the points and be willing to do some walking. Be careful driving if any of the reservoir is exposed. What looks dry may not be! Fish streamers and nymphs from the banks.

  Ice-Out

  We may not be near ice out yet on our mountain lakes, but in the coming months the explorers among you will be keeping tabs on these lakes with the warming weather. Bank fishing a lake that is half or ¾ covered in ice is simply a joy. The fishing is almost always off the charts good. Keep tabs of the biggest lakes first and as they begin to really thaw out, start making day hikes into your favorite lakes, just please stay off the ice! Take black buggers by the boxful and fish them slow!

  Carey Lake

  This is our closest warm water fishery and a wonderful place to target bluegill, perch and bass. Small, non-motorized boats can be used and are a great way to explore the canals on this little lake just outside of Carey. Fishing from the banks near the boat ramp area is also productive. Use little nymphs and small streamers. These are delicious fish in the spring if you have a need for fish tacos! You can also take a canoe or little boat and enjoy the massive amounts of migrating birds here in the spring!

• Gavers Lagoon

  This is an excellent place to take a kid fishing when the conditions permit. This little stocked pond at the Hayspur Fish Hatchery can be fun in the spring with catchable sized fish that can be caught as kids learn to fly fish, or just fish with a worm and a bobber. They produce the same smile! It is a small body of water so practice good social distancing here and try to fish when isn’t not busy.

   Lakes, Reservoirs and Canals all remain open in April and May. Take a smart approach to being on the water. Stay far away from your fellow angler and remember it’s an opportunity to safely recreate. Don’t let the end goal of catching a fish compromise your common sense and social distancing.

   Basic Stillwater Fishing Technique for Moving Water Anglers.

  If you don’t want to dedicate a lot of time and money into Stillwater fishing this spring, have no fear. You can still catch fish using the same gear you use everyday on the Big Wood and Silver Creek.

  You need:

  *A Fly Rod 4, 5 or 6 weight.

   *Reel with matching line weight.

   *Floating line, or if you do want to make a purchase. A basic intermediate sinking line is nice to have, but not necessary.

   *A 10 – 12-foot leader tapered to 2X for streamer fishing, and 4X for fishing nymphs and the occasional dry fly. Most fish are found in the top 12 feet of the water column. In the spring before the reservoir turns over, fish can be found everywhere from the banks to the middle of open water.

   *Flies: Buggers (Black or Olive), Attractor Nymphs (Like Prince Nymphs and Zug Bugs), Zebra Midges (Red and Black), Crippled Mayflies (like a Quigley Cripple Callibaetis)

   Streamers: From the bank, simply make a long cast. Fish the clock face, so start casting nearshore and keep moving your presentation in 5-foot increments all the way around to the opposite shore. Do this until you hook up and then concentrate on those areas and depths where you get your hook ups.

   If you are streamer fishing it is important to find the right speed and depth the fish want. When you make your first pass around the clock face, cast and begin to slowly strip right away. Each time you fish the clock face, count the fly down deeper. Increments of a 3 count is a good starting point. This will help you locate fish in a systematic manner and take some of the mystery away from large open still waters. Once you locate them, concentrate on that countdown and keep the fly at that depth until the fish move to the next food source.

   It is also very important to retrieve your fly with the rod tip down at the water. You want ZERO slack between your hand and the fly. When the fish hit in this manner, they hook themselves.

   Nymphing: Often trout will get on hatches in the reservoirs the same way they do in rivers. When this happens, they begin looking for a particular insect, or a particular way something is sized and moving. If you want to fish nymphs try tandem rigs with different color flies. Fish them with the bottom fly about 4 – 7 feet deep. And the next fly 18 inches above it. Use a strike indicator. What you may notice when a Stillwater fish takes the nymph is the indicator may go down very, very slowly. If you see this, set the hook hard, knowing your fly is deep and the more force you use to set the hook the better. Cast this set up different distances from the bank until you find the depth the fish are cruising in. Once you hook up concentrate on those successful depths and distances.

   Picabo Angler

  We have ceased our guiding activity at Picabo Angler for the time being. BUT, We are able to still help you with gear. We are blessed to have a post office within the walls of our Outfitting business. If you need flies, leaders, strike indicators, or even bigger items like rod packages or waders we can ship them to you quickly. Just plan a little bit. If you need to pick up a pre-selected assortment of flies or anything, please let us know and we will take payment over the phone and then a leave a fly tin or gear for you on our loading dock when you arrive. We will be sure to wipe down the tins with an anti-bacterial before we leave it for you. If you have questions, we will keep a shop employee next to the phone to help you in any safe way that we can. 208.788.3536 (ask for the fly shop.)

   Be safe out there and as always Happy Fishing Everyone!

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Sun Valley Area Fishing Report - March 18, 2020

One of the special things about fly fishing is how meditative it can be; The moving water, the sounds of nature, the almost poetic loop formed with each cast. All this and more comes together to completely consume the mind. With everything going on right now it’s a perfect time to head for the river and find a little bit of solitude, maybe even a couple hungry trout. 

Silver creek has finally started to color up a little bit with the recent spike in flows. The midges continue to hatch in strong numbers with plenty of fish up on them especially lower in the system. The Baetis are showing up but seem to be much more sporadic in numbers and seem to be hatching in some sections of the creek better than others. Streamer fishing has been really good on the cloudier days and folks fishing dry dropper rigs with midge and baetis nymphs are having success. The Creek closes at the end of March so be sure to take advantage before then!

The Big Wood River has been fishing great, there are fish being caught on dry flies, nymphs and streamers! Look for fish taking midges in tailouts in the afternoon and keep an eye out for some baetis to show up. A dry dropper set up with a parachute Adams and Midge or Baetis nymph below it is a great way to cover water until you find rising fish. Start with a deeper dropper earlier in the day and as it warms up you can adjust accordingly to the depth fish are feeding. If you get a cloudy day try swinging a small sculpin pattern or egg sucking leech and target some fired up pre spawn rainbows! The Big Wood like Silver Creek closes at the end of this month so get after it while you can!

The Lower Big Lost River unlike Silver Creek and The Big Wood stays open year round. So when the other places close this can be a fantastic option up until they raise the water. Look for big hatches of Baetis and midges mixed in, this can be some of the best fishing of the year on the Lower Lost as the fish are fired up and the Baetis can be extremely thick. Watch out for spawning fish as this fishery spawns early compared to our other fisheries. Focus on not wading on cleaned gravel and leave fish that are actively spawning alone!

Picabo Angler is offering a can not miss SPECIAL on guide trips till the end of the month! Call us at the shop today to find out more (208)788-3536

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report--February 3, 2020

A low pressure will be sitting over us this week. That means good cloud cover and active fish. We are heading into the prime winter dry fly season as well, so the timing of this weather system couldn’t be better! 

Silver Creek has been fishing really well as of late. The cloudy days are providing anglers with excellent streamer fishing opportunities. When the weather gets bad streamer fishing is good. The cloud cover will make the biggest fish feel brave and many of the big nocturnal trout will come out during the day under heavy clouds to hunt for baitfish.  There is decent streamer fishing available on sunny days too, but anglers need to drop the fly size, go to neutral colors and pay really close attention to areas where the deep water meets shallow water shelves. In these areas anglers can find fish sitting shallow and sunning themselves in only a few inches of water. 

If the sun is out and the temperatures are near or above the freezing mark on Silver Creek, anglers should wait until after lunch and then hit the Creek while looking for fish that are rising on Midges and decent sized Baetis flies. 

The Big Wood is also a great place to fish dry flies in the dead of winter. The winter hatches here are nearly daily this time of the season and the duration can go on for many hours. Look for rising fish on the Big Wood around 11:00 a.m. This action generally lasts until the sun begins to set. Peak activity is generally around 1 or 2 in the afternoon. 

Anglers can also find fish rising on occasion on the South Fork of the Boise and the lower Big Lost River. The action here isn’t as consistent, but it can be very good. Just take the weather into consideration when driving long distances to fish. 

No matter where you choose to fish and search for dry fly action in the winter time, the one constant is the need to have Griffith’s Gnats, Tie-Down Midges and / or any of your favorite Midge dry flies that have a trailing shuck as part of the pattern. The shuck makes the difference between a good day dry fly fishing and just an o.k. one. 

Be safe this week! Snow is on the forecast. Fish with friends, bring extra clothes, food and water. 

Happy Fishing Everyone!

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report - December 4, 2019

It’s time to work some of that Turkey and stuffing off! There is no better way to do that than by making fresh tracks up or down one of your favorite Idaho trout streams. So grab your fly rod, your winter fly box and go enjoy some of the most beautiful scenes Idaho serves up all season long!

Speaking of that winter fly box…Be sure you have a great assortment of Midges. Zebra Midges and Tie-Down Midges are a great place to start. A few other nymphs to carry include Hares Ears, Girdle Bugs, Prince Nymphs, and Brassies. Have your Zebras and Brassies in multiple colors. Red, Black, Purple, and Olive Zebras, and Red and Copper Brassies. Fish different tandems of these until you find the day’s hot color. Fish these combos under and indicator using 4X or 5X tippets. 

Streamers are a wintertime staple on all our area rivers, especially on Silver Creek. On our freestone and tailwater rivers fish weighted flies and get them to the bottom. If you are fishing Silver Creek don’t bother with weight and fish your Streamers just under the surface. It is a lot of fun watching the fish wake behind the fly and leave a boil as they eat! It’s the closest thing to the visual pleasure of the dry fly eat, only it’s winter and the fish can be huge. If you fish Streamers, beef up your tippets to 1X or 2X in case a toothy Brown Trout shows up!

We are probably a few weeks away from prolific dry fly activity on the Big Wood, but it would still be a good idea to have a few Griffith’s Gnats and Tie-Down Midges, along with your favorite powder floatant and some 6X tippet. Be sure you keep the trailing shuck on the Tie-Down Midge wet and in the film. The shuck is what will bring the fish to your fly out of the thousands of real midges that can be on the water at any given time during the winter. 

Have a ton of fun out there! Be safe if you are driving and on the water. It is a time of the season where little mishaps can be amplified. Have a full tank of gas, full cell phone battery, extra clothes, and food and water. Prepare for the worst and you can enjoy your day that much more. A little peace of mind will even up your fishing game!

Happy Fishing Everyone!

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report - June 1, 2019

The famed Brown Drake hatch seems to be winding down on Silver Creek. While the hatch occurred a bit later than normal and was somewhat short-lived, there were several days of intense Brown Drake activity. Adult emergences and spinner falls happened from the bridge at Picabo Road upstream to the Highway 20 access. For those anglers that timed things right, the fishing was excellent. 

As another Brown Drake hatch fades in our rearview mirror, we at Picabo Angler would like to thank all of the folks that stopped in to see us at the shop and on the river, and we are truly thankful for catching up with old friends and making new ones. There was definitely an attitude of “peace, love, and fly-fishing” along the creek during the hatch!

We are in full run-off mode on our local freestone rivers and tailwaters. The Big Wood River, upper and lower Big Lost River systems, and Little Wood River are high and turbid, offering little in the way of angling opportunities. Remain patient for these fisheries to come into shape; once they do, the fishing will be incredible! 

Like you, we’re looking forward to the Green Drakes on the Big Wood. These bugs typically show up on warm afternoons starting in late June or early July and will bring out the river’s best fish. Check out all the fantastic Green Drake patterns we’ve got here in the shop. 

We should have another excellent hopper season on all of our area waters. Our spring was very wet, which equates to lush, green grass along the riverbanks and a bumper crop of grasshoppers. Stock up on your favorite hopper patterns now!

The South Fork Boise River below Anderson Ranch Dam is flowing at 2000 CFS and is fishing well. Floating remains the best option. Salmonflies should be showing up on the river soon!

Silver Creek is the shining star in our area right now, and fishing remains productive. Mornings on the Creek see a smattering of Blue-Winged Olives and PMDs, with Calibaetis being the dominant bug during the warmest part of the day. This hatch will intensify as we roll into summer, and we’ll also be seeing increased damselfly activity on the creek. As always, don’t forget your ants and beetles. It’s a wonderful time to be an angler on Silver Creek!

Happy Fishing Everyone!

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report - June 12, 2019

This past Saturday, we saw the first real emergence of the Brown Drake. The big bugs appeared throughout lower Silver Creek from the Highway 20 bridge downstream to the bridge at North Picabo Road. In particular, the Drakes were heavy that afternoon, with 2PM to 4PM being prime time. Waves of bugs appeared throughout the afternoon and evening, and the trout responded. With the warmer weather happening now, expect to see Brown Drakes the next several days, and there should be good spinner falls. Don’t forget your headlamps and bug spray when fishing the evening spinner falls, and don’t leave the water too early! It would also be a good idea to blind fish Drake patterns during the early mornings the next few days, as the fish are looking for them.

Silver Creek remains the best game in town, and in addition to the Brown Drakes, mayflies such as Blue-Winged Olives, PMDs, and Calibaetis are found throughout the system. With warmer weather in the forecast, expect mornings and evenings to fish particularly well. When nothing is hatching, fish terrestrial patterns such as small parachute ants in black or brown, black foam beetles, olive damsel nymphs, and small leech patterns. 

Keep in mind that Silver Creek sees an uptick in angler traffic this time of year, given the presence of the Brown Drakes and the high water found on other rivers. Remember to be kind, stay kind!

Our freestone rivers and tailwaters remain too high to fish, and the snowmelt and runoff will continue this week as warmer temperatures return to the valley. We’re still a few weeks away from fishing the Big Wood River and the upper Big Lost system, and the lower Big Lost will not fish be fishable until later this summer. The South Fork Boise River below Anderson Dam is the exception. Flows are hovering around 3000 CFS, which limits wading but allows for excellent float fishing. Large, black foam patterns that imitate Cicadas, stoneflies, and Mormon Crickets are a good choice, as are your favorite big, buggy nymphs; we suggest Prince Nymphs, Rubber Legs, Girdle Bugs, and 20-Inchers. Look for softer seams, eddies, pockets, and side channels to find feeding fish. 

Happy Fishing Everyone!

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report - June 5, 2019

“If you ain’t first, you’re last.”

 A wise man once uttered those words, and they certainly hold true during the Brown Drake hatch. We still have not seen any Brown Drakes yet. No emergence last night, nor any evidence of bugs in the grass this morning. We remain ever vigilant, and will stand watch again this evening on lower Silver Creek.

Even if the bugs don’t show up tonight, we can’t think of a better place than the banks of the Creek to spend the evening. The weather is spectacular, the sunsets are immaculate, and the camaraderie on the water is truly special. 

We’ve got all the brown drake essentials here in the shop; a fantastic selection of flies, leaders, and tippet, bug spray, sun block, custom Picabo Angler Buffs, and Bug Stopper hoodies from Simms. Come down to the shop and take a look!

Silver Creek continues to fish well throughout its entirety, with PMDs, Blue-Winged Olives, and Calibaetis remaining the primary hatch activity. The fish are starting to shed their early season gullibility, so it pays to employ usual stealthy Silver Creek tactics and dig out your favorite patterns. Large foam beetles and ants are still a great fly choice, especially on days with a bit of a breeze. 

 It seems as if no one section of the creek is out-producing any other; at select times, the S-Turns, Kilpatrick Pond, the upper Conservancy, Sullivan’s Lake, the Willows, and Point of Rocks have all been hot spots. 

 The Big Wood, Little Wood, and Big Lost river systems remain very high and turbid, and good fishing on those waters is still a few weeks away. 

 Floating the South Fork of the Boise below Anderson Ranch Dam has been very good recently. Big foam bugs that imitate cicadas and stoneflies have been effective, and nymphing with a big Rubber Legs is a great bet right now. With flows just over 3200 CFS, floating is the best way to fish and access the South Fork.

Keep your eye on our blog and social media for up to the minute Brown Drake information, or give us a call in the shop at 208-788-3536. 

Be Kind, Stay Kind…

Happy Fishing Everyone!

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report - May 31, 2019

Despite some unsettled weather, we had an incredible opening weekend at Picabo Angler! Thank you so much to everyone who visited us at the store, came to the opening day party on Friday night, and stopped by for a hamburger or hot dog on Saturday. We are truly grateful for all of our clients, customers, and friends! A special thank you goes out to the folks who helped make our party a success – Hank Patterson, Hillfolk Noir, Idaho Angler, Waterworks-Lamson, Umpqua Feather Merchants, Sage-Redington-Rio, and Sawtooth Brewery.

Silver Creek is fishing very well, with flows hovering around 220 CFS. PMDs and Blue-Winged Olives have been the mainstay hatches since the opener, and Calibaetis have begun to make an appearance with the warmer weather. The PMDs we’ve been seeing on the Creek have been large; size 16, 14, and even 12! Have a good variety of PMD nymphs, emergers, duns, and cripples on hand when fishing the Creek. The same can be said of Blue-Winged Olives and Calibaetis. 

 Beetles and ants have been extremely effective this past week, especially on days with a bit of a breeze. Look for terrestrial fishing to remain productive throughout the season. With all the rain we’ve had this spring, it should be another stellar grasshopper season!

We have begun the 2019 Brown Drake watch, and with the warmer, more stable weather in the forecast, the drakes should make their appearance very soon! We’ll post daily updates on Brown Drake activity from here on out.

Last night, several of our guides poked around the lower Creek in search of drakes, but none made an appearance. Nor did we find any drakes in the grass this morning around the Picabo Bridge. 

The last nymphs we’ve found have definitely looked to be closer to emergence, so we are hopeful to see the big bugs soon. Stay tuned!

The Big Wood River and Big Lost River system remain high, off-color, and swift. We’ll likely see an increase in flows as high elevation snow begins to melt. Our snowpack got a boost last week; the Big Wood and Little Wood basins sit at 170%, while the Big Lost basin is at a whopping 207%. This is great news for area rivers!

Remember that with the onset of the Brown Drake, Silver Creek traffic will pick up. Let’s all enjoy one of nature’s finest spectacles together, and remember to “Be Kind, Stay Kind.”

Happy Fishing Everyone!

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report - May 22, 2019

This is it! The waiting is almost over! This Friday at 5:00 p.m. Picabo Angler will kick off Opening Day Weekend with our annual Opening Day Eve Party! Rain or shine (Outdoors or Indoors) we will be enjoying Hank Patterson, Hillfolk Noir, Sawtooth Brewery and all the fly-fishing vendors coming to show the latest and greatest! Please join us for what has become a very special event! Everyone is welcome!

If you plan to fish next Saturday, May 25th on Opening Day be prepared to fish on Silver Creek as it will be the only game in town for a few weeks. We have had eyes on the Creek the past few weeks so get ready as the hatches have been pretty darn good. 

If you come and fish the morning, plan on having P.M.D. patterns. This little bug seems to be making a comeback on the Creek as the hatches we’ve seen are bigger than years past. Hopefully the Pale Morning Dun has cycled back to the glorious hatches of years past. 

Callibaetis is also in play as are the Baetis. If the weather report holds true, then the Baetis hatches should be really good under the clouds! Look for the Callibaetis early morning and again in the afternoon. The more sun we have, the more of them you will see. 

Ants and Beetle patterns are a must have for the first weeks on Silver Creek. These patterns, especially large Beetles will often bring fish to the surface that aren’t actively rising. One of the fun parts of Opening Week on the Creek is trying all sorts of “unusual” patterns and even colors. 

Brown Drakes are probably a week or two away still. With that said, no one ever truly knows when this hatch will appear and history says have some of these patterns in your fly box from the moment the clock strikes 12:00 a.m. on Opening Day! 

There should be plenty of anglers on the Creek this weekend! Let’s be sure we celebrate the season together and treat one another like we want to be treated on the river. Keep in mind that this one weekend may be a bit busier than others, so let’s show that extra grace that we all know makes Silver Creek such a special place!

We look forward to seeing you all Friday at 5:00 p.m. for the party and don’t forget free BBQ on the 25th, from 11:00 until we run out! 

Happy Fishing Everyone!

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report - May 15, 2019

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report – May 15, 2019

In just under two weeks, Silver Creek and other local fisheries will open up for the 2019 season. Here in the Wood River valley area, we have been fortunate to have several winters with a healthy snowpack and resulting good flows in our rivers. The 2019 season is shaping up to be a great one! If you haven’t made plans to come out here and fish Silver Creek, the Big Wood River, the Salmon River, or the Big Lost River, do so now!

When the season opens on May 25th, don’t expect solitude if you plan to fish Silver Creek. With all freestone rivers running high and dirty, Silver Creek will be our most prominent fishery for several weeks. While the creek will certainly be popular, plenty of water is available for all anglers. Remember to “be kind, stay kind!”  

For Silver Creek, be sure to have a good selection of BWOs, PMDs, Calibaetis, ants, and beetles, and don’t be afraid to throw a streamer or mouse pattern during low light conditions. Here at the shop, we’ve got plenty of new, custom patterns on hand. 

We’ll start our annual Brown Drake watch at the opener. Keep your eyes on our fishing report and social media for up to date Drake info!

As of this writing, the Big Lost River below Mackay remains fishable at 329 CFS. Don’t make the long drive (Trail Creek Pass is still closed) without checking stream flows first. Above 350 CFS, wading on the lower Lost becomes quite difficult. Look for good midge and BWO activity in the afternoons and be equipped with your favorite tailwater nymphs such as zebra midges, copper johns, and princes. 

The Picabo Angler Opening Weekend festivities begin on Friday, May 24th at 5PM. Again this year we’ll have live music by Hillfolk Noir and storytelling by Hank Patterson, “your world-renowned fly-fishing expert and guide!” Sawtooth Brewery will be on hand to provide great local beers, and the kitchen at Picabo Angler will feature a great dinner. On Saturday, May 25th, be sure to stop by the shop for great new gear and flies, and say hi to all of us at Picabo Angler. Throughout the weekend, numerous vendors and local resource agencies will be here to talk about new products and our local fisheries. We’ll be here rain or shine, so be sure to come see us!

Peace, Love, And Fly-Fishing!